Brandon Kawal was drafted by the Mets in the 38th round in 2007. His first year of professional ball saw him hit over .300, make the NY Penn League All Star Team, and see playoff action for the Brooklyn Cyclones. Less then a year later he was released by the organization and is currently a free agent. I decided to catch up with Brandon out in California and talk to him about his experience in pro baseball. His story is one that will discuss the ups and downs of being in the minors.

MS: Brandon, many fans remember you as the 38th round pick out of Concordia University, but you were more than just a baseball player in college. Talk about your internship with Anderson Bat Company and your apparent passion for business/sports management?

BK: My passion for business started when I was younger because my mom and dad ran a family owned business for years. My dad always taught me about the different things he had to do day and day out. My internship was a great experience because it taught me about life outside being an athlete. It taught me about managing money and managing my life as a 9-5 worker. I always knew the importance of being a well rounded person; you never know what skills you will need in the future.

MS: Draft day must be especially stressful for a player that has dreamed of making it professionally. What was going through your mind during that day all the way up to when you were picked in the 38th round?

BK: Draft day was very difficult for me because I couldn’t decide what to do that would keep my mind off of what was going on. Being a senior sign I knew that I was going to be a selection at the top, so that left me with a day and some change to go and keep myself busy. I just knew that I had to have faith that the hard work and the production I had in college would take care of me in the draft and it ultimately did.

MS: Everyone envisions big money and fame for ballplayers, but 38th round picks don’t get much of a bonus and have very little leverage. Did you learn that rather quickly when you went through the signing process?

BK: Yes I learned that almost immediately during the signing process. The scout who drafted me didn’t call and ask me how much I wanted or what it was going to take to sign me. He simply showed me what the team was going to give me and told me that they must like me because I was getting more than most senior signs. After that he told me I was leaving the next day and that was that.

MS: I have spoke to agents and many believe it’s unfair that players in the minors are asked to live on such little money ($800 – $1,200 per month) and be asked to eat right as well as pay for their own equipment. Is this representation given to me of the minor league life financially accurate?

BK: It is very accurate. Most people try to overshadow the money you get per month with the fact that you are a professional baseball player and the team picks up travel and some of the food. The problem is that after equipment, food, rent, and any other things you have to pay for outside of the game, you are left with almost nothing. I do think it is very unfair but you are also in a situation where one side has a ton of power, and you do not.

MS: 2007 was your first full year in professional ball. You hit over .300 and made the NY-Penn League All Star game while playing for the Brooklyn Cyclones. Talk about some of your memories of your first season in pro ball.

BK: 2007 was a very memorable year for me. There were so many things that were changing in my life and I was playing in front of one of the best venues in minor league baseball. The 2007 team was one of my best memories of that year. Those guys were very good to me and we were a tight knit group that was very hard to break apart. The all-star game was very, very special to me because of the unlikely situation that I would make that team. Being a late pick and a guy who was not expected to come in and hit right away, I really felt like I accomplished something special for my team and for myself by making the Penn-League All star team. Also I learned very quickly what a grind baseball is. You have to maintain your focus for a long period of time not just during the game but during a season. I learned not to blink, because if you do you could be in a slump already.

MS: Every player I speak to is amazed at the intensity of playing in Brooklyn. Some who have played in other organizations don’t get the feeling it’s just minor league baseball. Talk about that.

BK: The intensity is unreal in Brooklyn. People who have never seen it don’t ever understand that playing in Brooklyn is like playing in the biggest game of your life for an entire season. It is very intimidating and not an easy experience. It will definitely get you ready for whatever team you play on next though, that is for sure.

MS: Despite having a great 2007, you were sent to extended Spring Training this year. Other than a brief cup of coffee with Savannah, it seemed your career stalled. After the great 2007 what happened?

BK: It was a big shock to be sent to extended after the year I had my first year. The problem wasn’t really my talent level rather than the business side of the game. There were people who had more money and who had to get their at bats in front of me. When you are a late round pick, you are always the one who fills a spot.

MS: You only hit .192 before your release in July, this is a stark contrast from your first year. Did the disappointment of not moving through the organization de-motivate you and, in turn, wear on your mentally as a player.

BK: Well to be honest I felt like I was swinging the bat really well. I didn’t get a lot of luck with balls falling for me, but that is part of the game. The hardest part was that I never really got any sort of consistency in playing time out there. Plus I was only given 24 at bats to show what I could do and that was split evenly between Savannah and Brooklyn. When you can’t get into a rhythm you can’t put up numbers. My first year was a situation where I was allowed to hit my stride and show what I can do, that just wasn’t the case this season.

MS: Who are some of the coaches that were helpful to you during your time with the Mets?

BK: Fonzy (Edgar) really helped me as far as the mental aspects of the game go. He really forced you to play smart baseball and that was something that I really wanted to work on. Tom McCraw also helped me a lot as well as Mark Ellis. The AAA Manager Marty Scott, and Nick Leyva who is no longer with the organization.

MS: Many have criticized the Mets for having a poor focus on the minor leagues. Normally its drafting philosophy is the main topic, but up until recently many felt the Mets didn’t value their young players like some other teams – your thoughts?

BK: Well I think that when you are a team with a lot of money to spend and the emphasis is to win now rather than build for the future you get caught up in the big leagues. I saw that there was some value on young players when I was there but to some degree I don’t think they paid enough attention to what the actually had in some players. It is a very difficult system to succeed in as a minor league player without a large price tag and that is a shame because there are some very talented low round players in that system.

MS: Were you given a fair shot with the Mets this year?

BK: I don’t think that I was given much of a shot at all. I’m not blaming anyone for it but there wasn’t much of a chance for me to get a chance. There was guys they liked in front of me in Low A and High A and there was new incoming draft picks that had to get their at bats. It’s part of the game when guys get lost in the shuffle but when you hit .300 and make an all-star team in a pressure packed environment your first year, there is something wrong when you only end up with 24 at bats the next year.

MS: My outside observations are that baseball, like most big business, exploits its young talent. Is it fair to say that there is just as much “office politics” on the diamond as there is in the boardroom?

BK: Absolutely, baseball is just like any other big business in the modern world. You have politics and pressure to perform and get a return on your investments. Players with big price tags on them will be treated far better than low money players. It is jus the nature of the business. Players are viewed as an asset rather than a person, and that’s what happens when you’re paid for your talent and not for what kind of person you are.

MS: You’re a free agent now, what are your next steps? Do you have any leads on potential landing destinations?

BK There are a lot of possibilities on where I’ll be playing next season. It is just a matter of what type of needs certain teams have and what they know about me. Now that the Draft deadline is over I should have some clarity on where I will end up playing. Baseball is still in my future because I am young and I have shown some success when given a chance to play. So the next few weeks will tell a lot.

MS: Must be strange not playing ball this summer?

BK: Yes it has been strange not being on a ball field for the last month. It has also been a very good experience too though because I have never really experienced any of my summer. If anything it gives me a new passion to get back on the field and know that during the summer I belong on the baseball field.

MS: Do you enjoy the game any less now that you are a pro versus when you played at the amateur level?

BK: I enjoy the game the same as I always have. When you become a professional you get a lot of outside things that affect you. When you cut out those things and just look at the game in between the white lines its just as fun as it ever was.

MS: Since you are on the outside looking in, give Mets fans some players that you played with in 2007 and 2008 that they should be excited about?

BK: Mets fans should be very excited about Lucas Duda who is going to be a great all around hitter and make some serious waves in professional baseball. Also be excited for Ike Davis and Reese Havens. Ike is starting off slow but he has a great approach and you can only keep good hitters down for so long. He’ll be someone to watch for in 2009. Also, look out for Eric Campbell. That kid has a great approach at the plate and will give you solid numbers from top to bottom. And of course I can’t leave out Zach Lutz, I like to call him the L..U..T…Z. He is a machine at the plate and is just starting to get healthy. He has something special in his game and plays the game right so watch out for him as well. Oh and don’t forget to watch out for Brandon Kawal in 2009… he won’t be with the Mets but certainly someone to watch out for!

MS: If someone was in their early years of college and wants to play pro ball – what kind of advice would Brandon Kawal give them?

BK: Enjoy College every second. The professional game is a lot different and becomes more of a job. College will give you a chance to develop relationships that you will never lose and a chance to have the time of you life. Develop your game all that you can prepare yourself to be a great pro. But have as much fun in college as you can and be prepared to grind it out when you become a pro.

Tags: Brandon Kawal, Brooklyn Cyclones, Mets